Interview with contemporary novelist Eric Grandy

Contemporary novelist Eric Grandy chats with me about his debut novel, Accidental Paradise.

During his virtual book tour, Eric will be giving away a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn participant. To enter for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too!

Welcome, Eric. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I live in Baltimore, Maryland with my wife Rhonda. I have one daughter, Marti who lives in Encinitas, California. I am a graduate of Baltimore City College High School and Essex Community College. I played six years of minor league baseball. I have also worked as a photographer, a lab manager, a driver and a warehouse manager. I have been retired for five years and am ecstatic to finally be able to scratch the creative itch I’ve been ignoring for many years.

Please tell us about your current release.
Accidental Paradise is my first published novel. It’s the story of the journey taken by my protagonist, LaVern Whitaker. She grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and through hard work and perseverance became a Hollywood mega star. Always shunning the lime light, she and her childhood friend, Shaundra, begin a search for the ideal, off the radar vacation spot where she can go unbothered and unrecognized. Their search accidently results in finding her paradise in a person and a place. Then, a sinister force from her past resurfaces and forces her to fight for both.

What inspired you to write this book?
The bones of this story were bouncing around in my head for over ten years. I would write a few paragraphs and then put it down. Needless to say, I didn’t get very far. But I always knew I would finish it. I just didn’t know when. After I retired, time and the desire to leave something behind with my name on it drove me to finally finish my novel. I thought, at the very least, a relative in the distant future would stumble across it and, having a completed manuscript, decide to do something with it.

I’m ecstatic to see my name on a published book.

Excerpt from Accidental Paradise:
Oh, this is our second time here and we love Louiston.”

LaVern removed her shades and looked down at the little girl.

“Oh, pardon me. This is my daughter Brittany. Brittany, this is Miss James.”

“Hello Miss James. It’s nice to meet you.”\

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Brittany. You look so cute in your bathing suit and crocs.”

“Thank you.”

There was an awkward moment of silence before Brittany spoke up.

“Daddy, can we get my ice cream cone?”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” said a slightly chagrined LaVern, “don’t let me interfere. I just wanted to say hello.”

“That’s alright Miss James. No need to apologize.” Wilson looked down at his restless daughter. “I think I should be on my way though. It was a pleasure meeting both of you again.”

“Likewise.”

From underneath the umbrella came a final salutation. “It was nice meeting you again too.”

Wilson and Brittany resumed their journey to the ice cream stand. LaVern returned to her shaded chair and replaced her sunglasses. She turned and looked at Shaundra.

“See, that didn’t hurt, did it? I removed my shades and he still didn’t recognize me.”

“Like I said before,” reminded Shaundra, “nobody would expect to find a movie star in a place like this.”

That’s exactly why LaVern, again, reserved her space a year in advance. Louiston was part of them now. As indispensable and as life-giving as a pulse. And Mary Scales was a member of their family.

What exciting project are you working on next?

My second novel is about a private detective who, against his every instinct, takes on a local, small-time drug dealer in a probation satisfying mentoring project. Theirs is a loud, confrontational and sometimes physical relationships. An eye-opening trip to Lagos, Nigeria is the epiphany that changes the dealer’s outlook and life direction.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I guess, technically, because I have a book coming out, I’m considered a writer, but I still have trouble thinking of myself that way. I’m not a trained journalist. I haven’t had anything published until now. I’m just a person who always liked to read. I’ve learned a great deal since I finished this novel five years ago, but I feel I still have so much to learn about this craft.

Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
Being retired, finding time to write is not a problem. Time is what I have the most of. I usually rise around 6AM (I read where James McBride rises at 3am to write) and write until 9 or 9:30. Then I write more from 4PM until 6:30PM. Some days I don’t write at all, but my book is never far from my mind. I also work part time for Baltimore County Parks and Recs. I get to be around young people and listen to their unique lexicon and witness their interpersonal habits. It’s good character material. Rhonda and I like to travel. We have been all over the United States and we have traveled to Mexico and Europe. We plan a weekend in Assateague this fall.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I have become a more acute observer of human behavior. Wherever I am I watch for interesting traits or tendencies, and phraseology. My friend of thirty years always had a unique brand of speech, but, until I began writing, I considered it nothing unusual. One day he described a mutual friend as “twenty four carat crazy”. I immediately knew I would use that somewhere in my story. And I did.

I always carry around something to write on and with. When I hear or see something unique, I write it down because I know I’ll forget it.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A major league baseball player. I lived part of that dream. I played six years in the Chicago Cubs minor league system. I personally know five baseball hall-of-famers.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I hope they give Accidental Paradise a good look and read. It’s a great story with people and events that everyone can relate to. It will have them rooting for LaVern Whitaker.